Meta reassigns 7,000 Facebook and Instagram staff to AI while cutting 8,000 roles in global shake-up

Meta reassigned 7,000 Facebook and Instagram employees to artificial intelligence roles and announced plans to cut about 8,000 jobs globally, the company informed staff on May 18, 2026. According to internal communications reviewed by multiple outlets, the restructuring aimed to increase efficiency and prioritize AI product development.

The reassignments involve moving 7,000 employees into newly created divisions focused on artificial intelligence tools and applications, according to an internal memo dated May 18, 2026, sent by Meta’s chief people officer, Janelle Gale. These divisions include teams working on AI-related products such as agents and apps, AI cloud infrastructure, and an internal AI agent known as Hatch, sources said. Bloomberg and The New York Times reported that the changes are part of a broader restructuring to increase investment in AI product development and workflows.

The combination of job cuts and reassignments will impact approximately 20% of Meta’s total workforce, according to multiple reports.

Alongside the reassignments, Meta plans to cut about 8,000 jobs globally, representing roughly 10% of its workforce, sources confirmed. The layoffs were scheduled to begin around May 20, 2026, with some employees already notified in certain locations, including Singapore, according to reports from GBH and other outlets. A Meta spokesperson, Erica Sackin, confirmed that affected employees had been informed of the layoffs.

The restructuring aims to improve efficiency by creating a flatter organizational structure with fewer managerial roles. Janelle Gale’s memo indicated that the new AI-focused divisions would have a reduced number of managers per employee compared to other parts of the company. Reuters and the Times of India cited sources stating that thousands of managerial positions would be eliminated as part of the reorganization. The Strait Times reported that the restructuring includes the elimination of some managerial roles and the establishment of AI-native design teams, reflecting a shift toward more streamlined workflows.

The changes follow CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s directive to make artificial intelligence a central priority for Meta. Reporting from Bloomberg and other outlets linked the restructuring to Meta’s efforts to compete in the generative AI and large language model markets. The company is reallocating resources toward AI agents, product development, and internal AI workflows, according to internal communications reviewed by multiple media organizations.

In addition to the reassignment and layoffs, some reports indicated that Meta is eliminating about 6,000 open positions, though this figure was not confirmed by all major outlets. The overall restructuring is described as a large-scale organizational reset rather than a routine round of cuts. Coverage from The Guardian and GBH noted that the company continues to adjust its AI teams following the reassignment, including allowing some engineers to leave an AI training unit.

The internal memo and subsequent reporting make clear that the restructuring is part of a broader wave of organizational changes at Meta in 2026. The company’s stated goal is to increase efficiency while accelerating AI development and product innovation. The layoffs and reassignments represent a significant shift in Meta’s workforce and operational focus as it adapts to evolving market demands and competitive pressures in the technology sector.